Effect of anti-mosquito antibodies on the infectivity of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei to Anopheles farauti

The effect of mouse anti-mosquito antibodies, present in the bloodmeal, on the infectivity of Plasmodium berghei Vincke to Anopheles farauti Laveran was investigated. Significantly fewer oocysts developed in mosquitoes feeding on mice immunized with sugar-fed mosquito midgut antigens than in mosquitoes feeding on control mice. Mosquitoes feeding on mice immunized with the midgut antigens derived from sugar-fed mosquitoes also showed reduced mortality and had lower infection rates than those fed on unimmunized mice. Blood-fed midgut antigen was less effective in producing these effects than sugar-fed midgut antigen.     

Ligand effects on the dephosphorylation of heart and skeletal muscle specific phosphorylases

Pseudo first order rate constants were determined for the dephosphorylation of heart and skeletal muscle specific phosphorylase a isoenzymes isolated from rabbit and pig using rabbit muscle phosphorylase phosphatase (mol. wt 34,000). The rate constants determined in the absence of ligands, were 4-5 fold lower for heart specific phosphorylases than for skeletal muscle specific ones. Glucose 6-phosphate (0.5-1 mM) enhances the rate of dephosphorylation of heart specific isophosphorylases 3-fold and suspends inhibition by 10(-5) M AMP, however, it has no significant effect on the dephosphorylation of skeletal muscle specific enzymes under the same conditions. Our data support characteristic functional differences between heart and skeletal muscle specific phosphorylases both in rabbit and pig.     

A cellular model for drug interactions on hematopoiesis: The use of human umbilical cord blood progenitors as a model for the study of drug-related myelosuppression of normal hematopoiesis

A cellular model of hematopoiesis which would be more convenient than bone marrow (BM) progenitors and directly relevant to human pathology is needed in order to investigate xenobiotic toxicity. Human umbilical cord blood (HCB), previously shown to be able to repopulate BM, provides a powerful in vitro model of normal human hematopoiesis. In order to validate the use of normal HCB progenitors as targets for dose-related myelosuppression, we used clonogenic assays and expansion in a liquid culture of progenitor-enriched cell suspensions from HCB. A series of 8 reference molecules, doxorubicin, cytosine-arabinoside, 5-fluorouracil, 3-azido-3-deoxythymidine, acetylsalicyclic acid, sodium valproate and two cephalosporin antibiotics, were tested. In vitro 50% inhibition concentrations (IC₅₀) were compared to those observed or reported with BM progenitors, and to the values of plasma concentrations from treated patients. HCB progenitors as in vitro targets for cytotoxic molecules were easy to access and handle, and their use was sensitive, specific and reproducible. They gave results similar to BM progenitors and allowed a qualitative approach to cellular metabolism and toxicity using morphological, flow cytometric and chromatographic methods.Abbreviations ARA-CC cytosine arabinoside - AS acetylsalicylic acid - AZTT 3-azido-3-deoxythymidine - BFUU burst-forming units - BM bone marrow - CFU colony-forming units - DOXX doxorubicin - FU 5-fluorouracil - glyAA glyAcophorin A - HCB human umbilical cord blood - IU international units - PCMEM human placenta-conditioned medium - VA sodium valproate     

Insoluble glycogen, a metabolizable internal adsorbent, decreases the lethality of endotoxin shock in rats

Insoluble glycogen is an enzymatically modified form of naturally occurring soluble glycogen with a great adsorbing capacity. It can be metabolized by phagocytes to glucose. In this study we used insoluble glycogen intravenously in the experimental endotoxin shock of rats. Wistar male rats were sensitized to endotoxin by Pb acetate. The survival of rats were compared in groups of animals endotoxin shock treated and non-treated with insoluble glycogen. Furthermore, we have determined in vitro the binding capacity of insoluble glycogen for endotoxin, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 and secretable phospholipase A2. Use of 10 mg/kg dose of insoluble glycogen could completely prevent the lethality of shock induced by LD50 quantity of endotoxin in rats. All animals treated survived. Insoluble glycogen is a form of 'metabolizable internal adsorbents'. It can potentially be used for treatment of septic shock.     

Congenital defects of the upper lateral incisors (ULI): Condition and measurements of the other teeth,measurements of the superior arch,head and face

We surveyed a French male population for the incidence of missing or reduced upper lateral incisors (ULI). In 5,738 subjects, we observed an incidence of 1.59% with one or two reduced ULI (the other normal) and 1.90% with one or two missing ULI (the other normal or reduced), altogether, 3.49% affected subjects. Furthermore, 250 random controls were observed. Agenesis of other teeth is more frequent in propositi. Missing third molars were 12.4% in controls, 24.0% in propositi with reduced ULI and 39.6% in propositi with two missing ULI. Furthermore, agenesis of incisors, canines and premolars ranges from 0.4% in controls to 1.3% in propositi having reduced ULI and 5.0% in propositi with two missing ULI. So, propositi with reduced ULI are intermediate between the controls and the propositi with missing ULI with respect to the frequency of agenesis of other teeth. On the other hand, a different ranking is observed with respect to the teeth measurements: reduction of tooth size is more marked in propositi with reduced ULI than in propositi with missing ULI. The reduction mainly affects canines, incisors and to a lesser degree, premolars. Arch length and interpremolar diameters are smaller in propositi with missing ULI, compared with controls.     

Molecular properties of the red cell calcium pump: II. Effects of calmodulin,proteolytic digestion and drugs on the calcium-induced membrane phosphorylation by ATP in inside-out red cell membrane vesicles

In inside-out human red cell membrane vesicles /IOV/, in the absence of Mg²⁺, the only calcium-induced labelling by γ³²P-ATP occurs in a 140–150 000 molecular weight protein fraction, representing the hydroxylamine-sensitive phosphorylated intermediate /EP/ of the calcium pump. In the presence of Mg²⁺ calcium-induced phosphorylation is accelerated but several other membrane proteins are also phosphorylated through protein kinase action forming hydroxylamine-insensitive bonds. Addition of calmodulin accelerates EP formation both in the absence and presence of Mg²⁺.Treatment of the membrane with SH-group reagents significantly reduces EP formation. Mild trypsin digestion of IOVs, stimulating active calcium transport, eliminates calmodulin action and decreases the steady-state level of EP. In trypsin-digested IOVs the molecular weight of the ³²P-labelled EP is shifted to lower values /110–120 000/ We suggest that trypsin digestion cleaves off a 20–40 000 molecular weight calmodulin-binding regulatory subunit of the calcium pump molecule.     

松嫩平原苏打盐渍土区不同潜水埋深下羊草的光合特征

通过人工控制地下水位模拟试验,研究了不同潜水埋深下羊草净光合速率和蒸腾速率。结果表明地下潜水埋深直接影响羊草的正常生理活动。潜水埋深在1.0—2.5m之间,潜水埋深越浅,羊草表现为净光合速率和蒸腾速率越高;随着潜水埋深的增加,羊草净光合速率和蒸腾速率减小,生理活动下降。不同月份羊草净光合速率和蒸腾速率与潜水埋深呈幂函数关系,不同时间羊草净光合速率和蒸腾速率与潜水埋深呈幂函数、指数函数和对数函数关系,相关系数均在0.90以上,因此可以用函数方程来估算不同潜水埋深下的羊草净光合速率和蒸腾速率。结果为松嫩平原苏打盐渍土区植被恢复与环境保护提供科学依据。     

粪肠球菌噬菌体vB_E. faecalis_IME196的生物学特性及其全基因组分析

【目的】从医院污水中分离一株能裂解多耐药粪肠球菌的噬菌体,分析该噬菌体的生物学特性,并进行全基因组测序和分析,为治疗和控制多耐药粪肠球菌感染提供基础。【方法】以耐药粪肠球菌为宿主,从医院污水分离噬菌体,双层平板法检测噬菌体效价、最佳感染复数(MOI)和一步生长曲线,纯化后负染法电镜观察噬菌体形态;蛋白酶K/SDS法提取噬菌体全基因组,酶切处理后琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析,使用Ion Torrent测序平台进行噬菌体全基因组测序,测序后进行噬菌体全基因组序列组装、注释、进化分析和比较分析。【结果】分离到一株粪肠球菌噬菌体,命名为v B_E.faecalis_IME196(IME196);其最佳感染复数为0.01,一步生长曲线显示IME196的潜伏期为30 min,暴发量为50 PFU,电镜观察该噬菌体为长尾噬菌体,结合BLASTp分析确定其属于尾病毒目长尾噬菌体科,基因测序表明,噬菌体IME196核酸类型为DNA,基因组全长为38 895 bp,G+C含量为33.9%。【结论】分离鉴定一株粪肠球菌噬菌体,进行了全基因组测序和分析,为以后预防和控制粪肠球菌的感染提供了一个新的途径,为噬菌体治疗多重耐药细菌奠定了基础。     

Hg2+对南极冰藻Chlorophyceae L-4生长和抗氧化系统的影响及藻体富集Hg2+的规律

南极冰藻Chlorophyceae L-4是南极生态系统重要的初级生产力和组成部分,其长期生长在极地环境中,有着特殊的生理机制。在生存环境和生长条件发生变化时,冰藻的膜脂系统和蛋白含量都会发生变化,而在受到重金属胁迫时,冰藻的超微结构也会发生明显变化。【目的】研究Chlorophyceae L-4在重金属离子Hg2+胁迫条件下的状态和Hg2+富集以及对其抗氧化系统的影响,为南极环境监测提供依据。【方法】绘制南极冰藻细胞在重金属离子Hg2+不同浓度胁迫条件下的生长曲线,观察其超微结构;测定丙二醛含量和SOD酶活性变化;ICP-MS法研究藻体富集Hg2+规律。【结果】Hg2+在低浓度时(≤100μg/L),细胞个数较正常条件明显偏少;在高浓度时(≥250μg/L),出现细胞死亡。丙二醛含量随Hg2+浓度升高而升高,SOD酶活性则先增强再减弱。藻体富集Hg2+在1 h达到峰值,而在Hg2+浓度持续升高时,富集量轻微降低。【结论】Hg2+离子对冰藻生长有抑制毒害作用;对Chlorophyceae L-4抗氧化系统有明显不利影响;L-4富集Hg2+在1 h内饱和,Hg2+过高时,富集量稍微降低。     

创新实践教学模式对大学生素质教育的作用

大学生素质教育要求新时代的大学生不仅要学习理论知识,更重要的是培养科学思维并掌握应用技能。我校微生物学课程教学中探索了以创新实践为主要内容的模式改革,其中"理论—技能—创新实践"同步训练的创新模式,是以将参与创新实践计入期末成绩的形式"强迫"学生进入实验室参与科研项目。实施中我们以"教师—研究生—创新小组"交互学习的方式,任课教师制定规则与目标,研究生帮助创新项目的选题、研究方案设计及实施指导,创新小组依照目标参与研究生的科研课题,最后完成创新实践并获得一定比例的成绩。实践证实创新实践教学对促进学生的理论课程学习、科学思维培养以及创新意识训练等方面都有积极的促进作用,是大学生素质教育的一种实用且高效的教学模式。